Oregon Ducks rundown: As season opener nears, some Ducks starting to make names for themselves

As the Aug. 31 season opener nears, so too does the revelation of whether the touted players during training camp were merely hype or for real.Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian

EUGENE - Now that the Ducks have finished training camp and have turned their attention to finalizing a depth chart and formulating a game plan for the Aug. 31 season opener against Nicholls State University, it’s time to reflect on which players stood out during the first three weeks of practice.

Oregon does not open practices or scrimmages, so the following list of standouts is taken from three weeks of post-practice interviews with players and coaches.

The usual suspects were frequently mentioned as having superb performances, but it sounds as if quarterback Marcus Mariota is primed for an even more impressive season than his freshman campaign, when he was named the first-team All Pac-12 quarterback, the first time a freshman had won that honor in 23 years.

“I can tell you this,’’ defensive back Brian Jackson said. “I know he has made a lot of very smart throws, great decisions. And he is putting the ball just to where the receiver can get it.’’

Head coach Mark Helfrich said Mariota has had several “wow” moments this month in practice, much like De’Anthony Thomas had in his second year, when everybody on the field seems to stop and look at each other like ‘Did that really just happen?’

“He has been awesome,’’ Helfrich said.

Mariota, who last year had 32 touchdown passes, six interceptions and 2,677 passing yards to go along with 752 yards rushing and five touchdowns, is about as humble as they come, and as quick as they come to deflect praise. All he would say Thursday is that he is anxious to get on the field and perform against somebody else other than the Ducks vaunted secondary that includes Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Terrance Mitchell, Brian Jackson, Avery Patterson and Erick Dargan.

“Going against Ifo, Terrance Mitchell and Brian Jackson every single day of the week isn’t fun,’’ Mariota said with a smile.

Perhaps because Mariota has been so on-the-money, a slew of Ducks receivers were singled out throughout camp. Probably the most praised receiver has been senior Daryle Hawkins, who appears to be much improved from a season when he caught 25 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns. And late in camp, sophomore Bralon Addison was noteworthy to his teammates, particularly in the Thursday scrimmage.

“And obviously, De’Anthony (Thomas) and Josh Huff have been doing a great job,’’ Jackson said after praising Addison. “I’d throw Darryle and Eric Dungy in there, too. The whole receiver group has been great.’’

After Thursday’s scrimmage, Helfrich said freshman Devon Allen was also noteworthy.

At running back, it sounds as if sophomore Byron Marshall will be the featured back, but more and more, we started hearing coaches and players tout Kani Benoit - the true freshman from Phoenix. Thomas Tyner, the heralded freshman from Aloha, appears to have missed half of the camp because of a left foot/ankle injury suffered on Aug. 13 that had him walking in a boot for at least a week. Tyner on Thursday was walking without a boot or a limp as he headed to a treatment session.

Center Hroniss Grassu, a returning first-team All Pac-12 player, has solidified himself as the leader of the offensive line, and Helfrich on Thursday noted that starting left tackle Tyler Johnstone had an exceptional training camp. Right tackle Jake Fisher also returns as a starter and the two guard positions will be filled with either Mana Greig, Everett Benyard or Hamani Stevens.

“There’s plenty of experience coming back,’’ Grassu said of the offensive line. “I wouldn’t be worried about it.’’

Other offensive players who received notable praise who have yet to become household names include true freshman tight end John Mundt, true freshmen wide receivers Devon Allen, Chance Allen and Darren Carrington,

The entire defensive line received rave reviews from day one through the end of camp. Seniors Taylor Hart, Wade Keliikipi and Ricky Havili-Hemuli, as well as sophomores Arik Armstead and DeForrest Buckner had moments where they wreaked havoc according to coaches and players. It could be one of the deepest units on the team.

The most intriguing but unproven unit in camp is the linebackers. Boseko Lokombo and Tony Washington appear to be sure-fire starters on the outside, and Tyson Coleman, Derrick Malone, Rodney Hardrick, Joe Walker and Rahim Cassell will battle for starts inside.